Medication to treat symptoms—may include antiseizure medication or muscle relaxants

Tetanus can cause severe problems with breathing or swallowing. A breathing tube may be inserted in the throat. This will help keep the airway open until you heal. A surgical procedure called a
tracheotomy
may be done. This will provide an open airway if your upper airway cannot be accessed.

Prevention

The best means of prevention is immunization. The immunization schedule for tetanus is as follows:

All children, with few exceptions should receive the, DTaP
vaccine
series. This protects against
diphtheria, tetanus, and
pertussis.

A single dose of Tdap vaccine is recommended for children aged 11 years or older, even if they did not receive the DTaP.

Adults should receive a booster dose of the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td) every 10 years. They may also receive this vaccine after an exposure to tetanus. It is not harmful to receive a tetanus vaccination earlier than 10 years.

If you or your child has not been fully vaccinated, talk to the doctor. There are catch-up schedules available.

In addition to the vaccine, you can prevent tetanus by taking proper care of wounds:

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.